I saw this lineup yesterday as well, over at AFTimes (Julius Marx's column). He also has an FAQ about Marvel Legends that is kind of a good read if you have the time. Glad to hear about this lineup being confirmed, and Howard the Duck is definitely a surprise. Can't wait to see pics next week, really looking forward to Colossus as well.

WEll, they create a lot of interest amongst a certain segment that's for sure. Being a McFarlane collector it would be sort of hypocritical if I crapped all over the idea but essentially, yeah, you're right.

The McFarlane release dates around here are nightmares. Swearing, shoving and fisticuffs are regular occurrences, moreso with football due to the limited numbers we see up north, but also occurs for hockey. It is severely turning off retailers and most of our Walmarts won't carry anything but hockey. A few carry football and only one or two carry baseball and basketball. Variants - whoosh - gone in a second, everything else sits.

I thought the Marvel Legends chase figures were handled well with gold Ironman and Doombot. Not overly plentiful but enough that the price never went through the roof. No Mask Wolverine is a farce. $300 on ebay Thank you, no. $30 yes. Seemingly so far Goliath is leaning this way.

Same fiasco that the comic book guys went through. If you want to kill the market, this is the way to do it. Anyone sitting on these chase pieces for anything other than posterity would be well advised to get rid of them now while they're still worth something. Don't believe me? Anyone remember Valiant comics?

OK gang. I’ve got two of the best information gathers on the web working for me this weekend. SDComics and the Toy Detective are on the case right now at Comic Con International 2003 preview night and have called in with the following reports:

TOY BIZ I guess the biggest news to me is X2: X-men United series III !! Everything I had heard from Toy Biz was that wave II was the end for the movie line. This looks like it may not be…. The figures have not arrived yet but there are place card holders at the Diamond booth for: Logan Colossus Lady Deathstrike NightCrawler in X-men Uniform

Again no figures displayed yet but here is the rundown of the newly announced X-Men and Hulk Classics lines:

Mr. Fantastic- Blue outfit with black belt boots and gloves. Extra hands- One shaped like a mallet and is a giant hand with bendy fingers. This will attach at the pop-off glove swivel. The “bathtub” fantasticar is his base. Sculpted by Phil Rameriz.

Nick Fury- WITH CIGAR! And a S.H.I.E.L.D. rocket pack is his base. When he’s attacked to the base he is flying.

Blade II- removable glasses, several weapons. Looks like the same headsculpt as the 12” Blade II.

Colossus- In his classic red and yellow outfit. He’ s HUGE! Comes with a trashed Sentinel torso as the base.

Silver Surfer w/Howard the Duck- Same as we sow at Toy Fair, but shinier.

Red Skull (chase)- The head is the “mask” style Red Skull. You can see the fleshy-bits around the eyes. Looks like he in a military dress uniform. Gray pants, black jacket/dublet, black shoes and black gloves.